While you may not like the rate increase, you have to give Mayor Kriseman and his administration some credit for taking the problem head on.

After a couple of frustrating years and
a big judgement related to the St. Petersburg Wastewater and Storm Water
systems the financial impact of years of infrastructure neglect is coming home
to roost.

The City’s consultant indicates the
average increase is about 7%, which means if you live in St. Pete and use 4,000
gallons a month in potable and reclaimed drinking water your bill will go up
about $10.96.

The typical method of funding water
infrastructure has been with deficit financing using utility bonds. According
to the Johnson article the City funded 10% and used bonds to cover the remaining
90% with a portion of utility revenue dedicated to pay off the bonds. A very expensive
way to build infrastructure.

The City will now fund 50% up front
reducing the amount raised from the bonds and saving significant amounts on
interest charges.

All of this puts the City in sounder
financial position, but the impact of the change flows directly to the customer.
The prediction is rates will rise about 10% each year over the next five years.

While you may not like the rate increase
and the long-term prognosis, you have to give Mayor Kriseman and his administration
some credit for taking the problem head on.

After some initial carping about the
lack of effort on the part of previous administrations and some serious encouragement
from the State via a fine, Kriseman and his team have settled into the problem,
and it looks like they have a viable plan that reaches into the future.

It doesn’t hurt that Kriseman term
limits out in three years, so he won’t have to defend the water rates in a reelection
bid, but he is also not sitting on his hands and passing the problem to the
next Mayor.

In a longer view, putting the City’s
water system on a sound financial and maintenance program may be a legacy
piece bigger than the Pier and almost as big as the Tropicana site.

There will be a public hearing on the
water rates on August 23, you can check the City calendar for time and location.

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